Bath tub mat



Jan. 3l, 1956 F. UWEBER BATH TUB MAT Filed oct. 2o, 1952 Fred U. Weber IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent O BATH TUB MAT Fred U. Weber, Los Angeles, Calif. Application October 20, 1952, Serial No. 315,711

3 Claims. (Cl. 4-185) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in anti-slipping mats for bath tubs to prevent the accidental slipping and falling of persons using the tub.

An important object of the invention is to provide a pair of vertical hinge straps at one side of the mat and attached to a supporting structure adjacent the rim of the tub whereby the mat may be swung upwardly and supported against a wall behind the tube, when the mat is not in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide an anchoring ring lixed to one end of the mat and adapted to enter the drain opening of the tub to hold the mat stationary therein.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is eflicient and reliable in operation, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, references being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is atop plan view;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; and,

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawing in detail wherein y'for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention the numeral 5 designates the mat which is preferably constructed of a wooden plank of an area adapted to substantially cover the bottom 6 of a bath tub 7. The upper surface of the mat is formed with intersecting longitudinal and transverse grooves 8 and 9 to provide an anti-slipping upper surface for the board.

Cleats 10 are secured to the undersurface of the mat 5 to support the mat above the surface of the bottom of the tub.

A ring or tubular member 11 is secured to one end of the mat 5 by means of a bracket 12 and is positioned for inserting the ring or tube 11 in the drain opening 13 of the tub to anchor the mat in a stationary position therein. The usual drain plug (not shown) may be inserted in the ring or tubular member 11 to provide a stopper for the tub in the usual manner.

A pair of hinge straps 14 are secured in a transverse position to the underside of the mat 5 and to which hinge straps 15 are connected by means of hinge pins 16. The hinge straps 15 extend upwardly at one side of the tub and to which extensible straps 17 are secured in vertically adjusted position by means of screws or the like 18 engaged in vertical slots 19 in the extension strap 17 and passing into the hinge strap 15. An attaching bracket 20 is hingedly connected to the upper end of the extension strap 17 by means of a conventional type of hinge structure 21, the bracket being of substantially S-shape to include a horizontal intermediate portion 22 adapted to overlie the rim 23 of the tub 7 and an upstanding flange 24 adapted for securing to the wall 25 behind the tub by means of screws or other suitable fasteners 26.

In the operation of the device the mat 5 is adapted to rest on the bottom of the tub to prevent slipping of a person occupying the tub and the ring or tubular member of the mat is adapted for insertion in the drain opening of the tub to prevent movement of the mat. The vertical hinge straps at the rear side of the tub enable the mat to swing upwardly into an inclined position against the wall, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 3 of the drawing, when the mat is not in use.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of this invention, the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new 1s:

1. A bath tub mat comprising a flat member adapted for resting on the bottom of a bath tub, a bracket adapted for attaching to a supporting structure behind the top of the tub, and said bracket including a perpendicular portion extending downwardly into the tub and hinge means connecting the flat member to the lower portion of the bracket for swinging said member from a position at the bottom of the tub into a raised position above and toward one side of the tub.

2. The combination of claim l wherein said hinge means includes an extensible hinge strap positioned perpendicularly to the tub.

3. The combination of claim l and including a ring fixed to the flat member and adapted to enter the drain opening of the tub to anchor said member to the tub, said ring being adapted to receive a drain plug to open and close the drain opening.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,358,680 Lilly Nov. 9, 1920 1,602,240 Miller Oct. 5, 1926 2,087,286 Hicks July 20, 1937 2,322,147 Landauer June 15, 1943 

